Bowling ball elevating apparatus



Nov. 12, 1963 H. w. EASTERLING ETAL 3,110,496

BOWLING BALL ELEVATING APPARATUS Dec. '20, I. 2 s t s t l FlG.l

INVENTORE HERBERT W.EASTERLING CARL J. HE RTZER 2 ATTORN EY Nov. 12, 1963 Filed Dec. 20,1960

H. W. EASTERLING ETAL BOWLING BALL ELEVATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '7 2 29 FIG.2 72

if: T 7 78 i 06 94 lilo INVENTOR.

A HERBERT W. EASTERLING CARL J. HERTZER ATTORN EY United States Patent Filed Dec. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 77,222 3 Claims. Cl. 2,73 i9) This invention relates to the game of bowling, and

' more particularly to improvements in apparatus for elevating bowling balls delivered thereto and discharging.

them onto a ball return runway for return to bowlers at the head or approach end of the alley or alleys served.

Apparatus embodying the invention can be used with a single alley, or if desired, with two side by side alleys. If used with two side by side alleys, the ball lifting mechanism preferably is located between the spaced kickbacks in order that balls from either alley can be delivered in any suitable manner, either manually or by mechanical means into the range of operation of the ball elevating mechanism, and be delivered to a common return runway which serves both alleys.

The bowling ball handling and elevating mechanism constituting the present invention constitutes an improvement in bowling ball elevating apparatus of the type shown in Zuercher Patent 2,931,651, granted April 5, 1960. In a device such as shown in' this patent, the descent of the ball elevator which includes an endless ball engaging and rolling belt which is operative to roll a ball upwardly along a ball track is retarded by an extension spring. When the position of the spring is adjusted to lower the assembly gently after a bowling ball has been discharged from the track along which it was rolled thereby onto a bowling ball return runway, enough weight of the ball elevator assembly is counteracted to reduce drastically the weight of the assembly available to gain friction against the bowling ball. When a ball is in the position of initial elevation, the endless belt of the ball elevator assembly conforms to the crown of the lower pulley instead of wrapping around the ball. It has been found that a heavier ball which may become slippery due to its picking up bowling alley dressing is difficult to elevate in the position just referred to. If the spring tension is lessened, thereby reducing the upward urging of the elevator assembly in order better to elevate bowling balls, the unrestricted descent of the bowling ball elevator assembly after a ball has been discharged by the elevator belt onto the ball return runway causes a considerable shock to occur in the assembly which makes a thumping noise, and causes great wear and tear on the assembly and is detrimental to the life of its component parts.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a self-cushioning downstop, such as a hydraulic shock absorber, which effectively lowers the entire ball elevator assembly gently, and since there is no extension spring to lessen the assembly weight necessary to gain adequate friction at all times on balls being elevated, balls can be elevated regardless of their condition and weight of balls.

In a bowling ball elevating device embodying the invention the shock load on the component parts of the bowling ball elevator assembly, and especially the bearings which support the lower belt pulley thereof, is greatly reduced by the provision of the stock absorber used which insures that the ball elevator assembly will be gently lowered to its initial operative position at all times thereby increasing the life of the ball life apparatus and its eflicient operation.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bowling ball handling and elevating device which more effectively ice elevates bowling balls delivered from the pit of a bowling alley onto a bowling ball return runway.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel bowling ball elevating device having an endless ball rolling belt which co-acts with a ball delivery track and means for at all times insuring an adequate friction between the belt, ball and track so that even slippery, heavy bowling balls can be elevated satisfactorily from a receiving station to a bowling ball discharge station located thereabove. 1

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a novel bowling ball elevating and handling apparatus having an endless ball rolling belt for rolling a ball upwardly along a substantially vertical track from a ball receiving station to an elevated ball delivery station, and wherein there is provided a novel means in'the form of a shock absorber assembly so connected in the belt supporting system that as. a ball is rolled by the belt upwardly along the track the compression stroke of the shock absorber allows the ball assembly to pivot upwardly against the compression of the shock absorber as the ball forces it to move upwardly during its travel up the track. In this way, the full weight of the support for the elevating belt is utilized to gain adequate friction for all weights of balls, including heavy slippery balls which must be delivered from a receiving station to the elevated discharge station.

The invention further contemplates a novel bowling ball handling apparatus having a vertically upwardly movable support for an endless belt which rolls a ball upwardly along a' delivery track and shock absorber means connected to the support which after a bowling ball has been delivered at the delivery station onto a bowling ball return runway operates to eliminate shock as the belt support assembly returns to its initial position and also eliminates rebound of the belt support thereby giving more definite lifting to the next ball as it moves into the range of action of the belt.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain combinations and constructions which will be hereinafter fully described, and then set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention employed with two side by side bowling alleys.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional end elevation taken on line 22 in FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is mounted between kickbacks 10 of two side by side or adjoining alleys A and B. The ends of the kickbacks are cut away in any suitable manner to make room for installing the ball lift and a space through which a pin boy may move back and forth from the pit of alley A to the pit of alley B in directing balls to the ball lift designated generally 15, and for spotting pins on the pin decks of alley A and B. If the ball lifting mechanism is used with bowling alleys served with automatic bowling pin spotting machines, the kickbacks are modified only to the extent necessary to provide space for the installation of ball lift 15.

Ball lift 15 is installed between alleys A and B alongside the pits and preferably the bottoms of the pits are inclined as shown in FIGURE 2 so that balls may roll or be delivered through openings 12 in kickbacks 10 onto a ball receiving block 14 in which is formed an inclined guideway 16 down whichballs roll onto track or guide 18 and intoposition to be engaged by endless belt 20.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the ball track or guide along which balls are rolled by belt is designated generally 18. This track consists of two spaced rails or ball supporting members 22. In the illustrated embodiment these rails are formed of tubular rods preferably covered with a resilient material 19 such as rubber tubing which not only protects the balls being handled from damage, but also acts to provide a good holding surface for insuring the best handling of balls against slippage during their travel therealong to the top of the track to the point of discharge onto return runway 24 along which balls roll to the playing position.

The end of the lower portion of track 18 is suitably connected to block 14. This end portion is shaped or curved and provided with a radius such that when a ball rolls from block onto lower curved portion 26 (FIG. 1) of track 18 it will be gripped by the lower portion of belt 20 as it passes around pulley 28 of the belt supporting frame designated generally 30. In general configuration track 18 resembles somewhat an inverted shepherds crook. The reason for this formation is to provide a ball rolling and supporting surface that when a ball is being rolled along track 18, by belt 20, it will be firmly yet resiliently held thereby, as it rolls therealong. Furthermore, a second ball delivered onto block 14 and rolling down guide 16 onto track portion 26 cannot be gripped by belt 20, because at that time the latter is rolling the first ball upwardly along upper track portion 27 for delivery onto return runway 24. As will be brought out more fully hereinafter while belt '26 is rolling a ball along tnack portions 26 and 27, the distance of the lowest point on the periphery of pulley 28 is greater than the diameter of a ball, and hence a second ball on track portion 26 cannot be gripped by belt 20 until the first ball, or that being rolled along track 18 is actually discharged onto return runway 24. Rails 22 of track 18 are detachably secured by suitable means to bracket 34 mounted on support channel 38. The upper part of curved portion 26 of track 18 is held firmly seated in a strap 32 mounted on the lower portion of channel 38.

-Belt supporting frame is generally similar in construction to the belt supporting frame shown in Zuercher Patent 2,931,651, granted April 5, 1960. In the mechanism illustrated herein frame 30 comprises a rod slidably fitted in tube 52. The lower end of tube 52 carries a fork 54 having spaced arms 55 provided with bearings supporting a shaft 56 on which pulley 28 is freely rotatably mounted. A spring (not shown) in tube 52 presses against the free end of rod 50 and the top of a rod portion (not shown) formed on fork 54. The telescoping construction of frame 36 provides an automatic takeup for endless belt 20 running on pulleys 28 and 29, and also properly tensions belt 20 when it is running free, or when it is engaging a ball and rolling it upwardly along track 18 for delivery to return runway 24.

Pulley 29 is fixed to shaft 58 rotatably mounted in spaced arms 60 of a fork -61 suitably attached to rod 50. In the form of the invention selected for illustration, ball lift 15 is used with two alleys provided with automatic bowling pin spotting machines (not shown). Certain of the operating elements of these machines are driven by motors 62 and 64, respectively. When both machines are in use, both motors are running. When only one machine is in use, its respective motor only is in use. These motors are of the gear reduction type. Since the driving connections of each motor to shaft 58 are the same, only one driving connection will be described.

The output shaft 66 of motor 62 mounts a pulley 68 on which runs belt 70 running on and driving a pulley 72 forming a part of a one directional clutch operatively connected to shaft 58. Clutch 74 may be of any suitable conventional type. Belt 70 is tensioned by a tension pulley '76 rotatably supported on an arm 78 pivotally mounted on a cross shaft 30 supported in kickbacks 10. A spring 82 having one end attached to a hook 84 fixed d to pivot pin 77 of pulley 76, and its other end attached to a pin on one of the kickbacks 10 maintains proper tension on belt 70.

The extent of outward telescopic movement of rod 50 relative to tube 52 is controlled by elongated adjusting bolt 86. The upper or head portion of bolt 86 is slidably supported in 3. lug 87 formed on fork member 62. The lower or threaded end portion of bolt 86 is threaded through a lug or boss 38 attached to tube 52. A look nut 90 hearing against the lower face of boss 84 prevents the rod 50 from being catapulted in case the belt 20 should break by accident.

Frame 30 is supported for movementto and from track 18 by levers 92 and 94. Lever 92 is substantially H-shape in form and is provided with two spaced upper arms 96 pivotally attached to the ends of stud shaft 98 supported in fork 54. Lever 92 also is provided with two lower spaced arms 100 pivotally mounted on shaft 102 having its ends mounted in supports in kickbacks 1t). Collars 104 on shaft 192 prevent arms 10% from moving laterally on shaft 102. Lever 94 is substantially H-shaped in form and is provided with two upper arms 106 pivotally attached to stud shafts 1025 supported in fork 61. Lever 94 also has two spaced lower arms 110 which are pivotally mounted on a cross shaft 86.

In order to provide for the upward movement of assembly frame 36 and allow the full weight of the lift to be utilized to gain friction such as to insure the effective lifting of the heaviest balls, including heavy oily balls, there is provided a shock absorber system operatively connected as shown in the drawings. This system includes a suitable conventional shock absorber assembly including a cylinder 122 and a reciprocating piston rod 124 to which is secured on operating piston (not shown) movable in cylinder 122. The free end of cylinder 122 is pivotally connected to shaft 98. The free end of piston rod 124 is adjustably secured to one end of a turnbuckle 126, threadably mounted on rod 128, the other end of which rod is resiliently connected to bracket pivotally attached to shaft 86. Any suitable type of conventional shock absorber can be used in our device. We have found that a hydraulic shock absorber assembly designated as No. 18717 manufactured by the Monroe Auto Equipment 00., Monroe, Michigan, gives satisfactory results. Since the details of assembly 120 do not forma specific part of the invention, further description and showing thereof is deemed unnecessary. The extent of upward movement of frame 30 is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the operating length of piston rod by turning turnbuckle 126 to the right or left, as viewed in FIGURE 1.

In operation when a ball rolls through one of the openings 12 in a kickback it is guided down inclined guideway 16 and into engagement with belt 20 as it passes around pulley 28. The coaction between belt 20 and track portion 26 is such that when a ball is engaged by belt 20 it will immediately be rolled thereby along the full length of curved track portion 26 and thence upwardly along track portion 27 to the point of discharge from track portion 27. onto rubber block 42 and from there it rolls onto return runway 24 of which block 42 forms a part.

As the result of the engagement of a ball by belt 20 as it rolls along track portion 26, the entire frame 39 is moved freely upwardly away from track portion 26 and track portion 27 so that the full weight of the assembly comprising frame 3%, pulleys 28 and 29 and belt 20 is utilized in the eflicient and rapid lifting of balls for discharge into return runway 24. The amount of movement of frame 30 upwardly and to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, away from track 18 is such that belt pulley 28 and belt 20 passing thereabout are positioned a distance from track portion 26 greater than the diameter of a ball such that belt 20 cannot engage a second ball rolling onto track portion 26 while the first ball engaged by belt 21) is being rolled along track 18 runway 24.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be seen that when belt 20 is rolling a ball upwardly along track 18, the relationship between the pivot shaft 8d of lever 94 and lever 92 on pivot shaft 1592 results in the movement of levers 92 and 94- in a counterclockwise direction and insures that so long as a ball is being pressed by belt 20* against track 18, frame 30 will be maintained in its upper position and will so remain until this ball is discharged onto return runway 24. By means of the reverse curve in track 18, at the point where the top of curved track portion 26 joins the straight portion 27, the latter portion is substantially parallel with belt 20 and closer thereto than the diameter of a ball, thus insuring a continued upward thrust relative to lever 94, and also lever 92, which is operative to maintain frame 3t against downward movement until a ball is delivered onto return runway 24. In other words, a ball being rolled by belt 20 upwardly on track 18 moves to the left as viewed in FIG. 1, as it rolls off track portion 26 onto track portion 27 where because of the closer spacing between belt 26 and track 27, the ball is more firmly held since shock absorber assembly 12% is in its compression operation. It will also be apparent that ineffect frame St) is locked against downward movement until the ball has been discharged by the belt onto return runway 24.

The upward movement of frame 30 is also due in part to the movement of a ball into engagement with belt 20 as it passes around pulley 28. The coaction between belt 20 and track portion 26 is such that the upper lap of belt 70, designated L, is substantially immediately tightened as a result of the entry of the ball therebetween. As soon as lap L of belt 70 tightens, levers 92 and 94, which support frame 30, are swung in a counter clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, thereby lifting frame 30. The fact that frame 30 is lifted partially bythe tightening of lap L of belt 70 prevents balls from slipping at their point of entry into engagement with belt 20 as they roll onto track portion 26. This structure also increases the life of the belt and the life of tubing 19.

Upon discharge of a ball by belt 20 onto return runway 24, frame 30 moves downwardly by gravity to its initial operating position shown in FIG. 1. At the same time shock absorber assembly 120 operates through its expansion or extension stroke in that the relative controlled movement between piston rod 124 and cylinder 122 is such that there is a gentle lowering of frame 30 and hence it, as Well as the operating elements carried thereby are not subjected to shock at the bottom of the stroke. Also by controlling the valving of the hydraulic shock absorber assembly in known manner it is possible to control the rate of descent of frame '30, and hence effect a greatly improved controlled separation of balls for lifting in that a ball next to be lifted can roll into position on rails 25 for lifting while frame 30 is being moved by gravity gently into operative position relative thereto. It is also to be noted that because of the elimination of rebound at the bottom of the lowering stroke of frame 30 there is assured a more definite and positive lifting of the next ball to be elevated.

We claim:

1. A bowling ball elevating apparatus comprising a ball for delivery onto return return track having a ball receiving section positioned to receive a ball at substantially the level of the pit of a bowling alley and a ball elevating section from which a ball is delivered onto a ball return runway, an endless conveyor spaced from said track having an active ball delivering lap, a support frame mounting said conveyor with said ball delivering lap normally positioned to engage a ball located on said receiving section of said track and roll it upwardly along said elevating sect-ion for delivery thereby onto said runway, support means mounting said frame for movement upwardly and away from said track in response to the pressure exerted by a ball engaged by said lap of said conveyor and traveled thereby along said track, and shock absorber means operatively connected to said frame support means, said shock absorber means providing a slight resistance to the upward movement of said frame, thereby to augment the frictional gripping force exerted by said conveyor upon a ball being elevated, and said shock absorber also being effective to retard the rate of downward movement of said frame subsequent to the delivery of a ball by said conveyor onto said return runway.

: 2. The mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said conveyor comprises an endless belt, an upper pulley and a lower pulley mounted on said frame for supporting and driving said belt, shafts mounting said pulleys, bearings on said frame supporting said shafts, and said shock absorbing means being operative to prevent rebound and shock to said conveyor and frame on downward movement thereof subsequent to the delivery of a ball onto said return runway, whereby said conveyor is repositioned for more positive lifting of balls'a-nd wear on said bearings is materially decreased.

3. A bowling ball elevating apparatus comprising a ball return track having a ball receiving section positioned to receive a ball at substantially the level of the pit of a bowling alley and a ball elevating section from which a ball is delivered onto a ball return runway, an endless conveyor spaced from said track and having an active ball delivering lap, a support frame mounting said conveyor with said ball delivering lap normally positioned to engage a ball located on said receiving section of said track and travel said ball upwardly along said elevating section for delivery thereby onto said runway, support means mounting said frame for movement upwardly and away from said track, in response'to the pressure exerted by a ball engaged by said conveyor travelling along said track,

and movement controlling mechanism comprising a shock absorber having a piston momentum dampener connected to said frame supporting means to augment the frictional force exerted by said conveyor upon a ball engaged thereby, whereby heavy, oily balls can readily be elevated, and said mechanism also being operative in limiting the rate of downward movement of said frame subsequent to the delivery of a ball by said conveyor onto said return runway to prevent rebound of said frame and conveyor and minimize wear on its parts. i

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A BOWLING BALL ELEVATING APPARATUS COMPRISING A BALL RETURN TRACK HAVING A BALL RECEIVING SECTION POSITIONED TO RECEIVE A BALL AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE LEVEL OF THE PIT OF A BOWLING ALLEY AND A BALL ELEVATING SECTION FROM WHICH A BALL IS DELIVERED ONTO A BALL RETURN RUNWAY, AN ENDLESS CONVEYOR SPACED FROM SAID TRACK HAVING AN ACTIVE BALL DELIVERING LAP, A SUPPORT FRAME MOUNTING SAID CONVEYOR WITH SAID BALL DELIVERING LAP NORMALLY POSITIONED TO ENGAGE A BALL LOCATED ON SAID RECEIVING SECTION OF SAID TRACK AND ROLL IT UPWARDLY ALONG SAID ELEVATING SECTION FOR DELIVERY THEREBY ONTO SAID RUNWAY, SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTING SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT UPWARDLY AND AWAY FROM SAID TRACK IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESSURE EXERTED BY A BALL ENGAGED BY SAID LAP OF SAID CONVEYOR AND TRAVELED THEREBY ALONG SAID TRACK, AND SHOCK ABSORBER MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FRAME SUPPORT MEANS, SAID SHOCK ABSORBER MEANS PRO- 